Natchez’s unique ability to preserve and capitalize on our area’s history is one of dozens of things that makes our city special.

And while we’re smack in the middle of the annual Spring Pilgrimage season, this weekend the annual tour of antebellum houses isn’t the only historical game in town. On Saturday and Sunday, residents and tourists alike can get a wonderful glimpse into another crucial part of our area’s history — the Native American heritage.

Rhythmic drumming, Native American dancing and crafts will be featured as the 12th annual Natchez Powwow gets under way at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians on Jefferson Davis Boulevard.

The powwow celebrates the cultures and way of life that ultimately led to European settlement in Natchez. Basically if it hadn’t been for the initial contact with the Natchez Indians, the French likely would have never settled at this point along the Mississippi River, and all of our history over the last 200 years would be vastly different.

And as strange as it may seem since our city gets its name from the Natchez Indians, most of us know very little about Native American culture and how important it was to our history.

The Natchez Powwow is a perfect way to spend the weekend and learn about another in the multitude of ingredients that makes the melting pot of the Miss-Lou unique.

We urge everyone to head out the Grand Village and see, smell, hear and taste a bit of our past.